Valve-operating mechanism for organs



N 9,1929. L. J. WICK' 1,736,684

VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM FOR ORGANS Filed March 14, 1928 JZ/fam e aPatented Nov. 19, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOUIS J. WICK,OFHIGHLAND, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WICKS PIPE ORGAN 00., OF

' HIGHLAN D, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS VALVE-OPERATINGMECHANISM FOR ORG-AN S Application filed March 14, 1928. Serial No.261,509.

is constructed as a unit, for readily mounting the same in position inthe organ, and for readily removing and replacing it; and which willoperate the valve positively and quickly, and is durable, economical andefficient. Another object is to provide such a unitary operatingmechanism with a combination electro-magnet and spark-absorberconstructed as one member or unit, to positively prevent the occurrenceof any spark at the contact.

' A further object is to provide an electro-magnetic member which has aninsulator end piece ,with integral ears or lugs where-on are wound theends of the coil wires, to provide strong terminals. Still anotherobject is to provide a combination electro-magnet and spark-absorber asone unit, which has an insulator end piece with integral ears whereonare wound and fastened, preferably with solder, the ends of the coilwires, thus providing strong and efiicient terminals.

These and other objects and advantages are attained with my presentinvention, as will become apparent from the following description, takenin connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is asectional view taken through an air passage of an organ with an organpipe communicating therewith, and showing my improved valve operatingmechanism mounted in position for controlling the flow of air from thepassage into the pipe;

Fig. 2 is a view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, but taken at aright-angle thereto;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken through the combination electro-magnetand sparkabsorber;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the combined windings of the innerelectro-magnet coil and the outer spark-absorbing coil; and

Fig. 5 is a view of the insulator end piece having the integral ears orlugs thereon for receiving the ends of the coils to form terminals.

In the drawing my improved valve operating mechanism is shown in itspreferred form of construction and mounted in position in the airpassage 10, which is in practice in communication with a supply (notshown) of air under pressure. An organ-pipe 11 extends from the top wallof said passage 10 and receives the air under pressure therefrom,through the port or opening 12 in said wall. A valve seat 13 is providedat the inner end of said opening 12; and the channel extending throughthis seat 13, port 12, and pipe 11, provides an air channel or conduitwhich is controlled by my improved valve mechanism.

The improved unitary valve mechanism comprises an angle-shape bracketwhich includes a leg 14 having a foot 15 thereon wherewith the mechanismis mounted to the underside of the top wall of said passage 10, withsuitable screws or other fastening-"elements. An electromagnetic member16, which pref.- erably comprises, an electro-magnet and aspark-absorber constructed as a unitary member, is mounted adjacent thelower end of said bracket leg 14, and has a core 17 provided with aslanting and slightly curved face 18 at its outer end. An armature 19co-operates with said core and preferably includes a straight, mainupper bar-portion which is pivotally supported on the bracket,preferably by mounting its inner end in a slot 20 cut in leg 14, and byhaving a pivot pin 21 extend through said end and said leg. Said upperbar-portion has its outer end bent down forming a depending arm 22 whichis slightly curved and is movable across the curved end face 18 of core17, said curved arm and face being preferably concentric with pivot pin21. Said arm 22 has a semi-circular notch or recess 23 in its end, whichis substantially concentric with core 17.

The valve provided for this mechanism is preferably a composite oneincluding a lower disk 24 of sole leather having a disk 25 of soft feltsecured thereon, and a disk 26 of soft leather secured over said feltdisk, to firmly engage the valve seat and positively close the airchannel. Said valve is carried by the armature, preferably by means of athreaded rod 27 extending through said armature bar-portion and havingthe valve screwed on its upper end, thereby making it adjustable up anddown on said rod. The lower end of this rod has a bumper adjustablymounted thereon, which preferably includes a sleeve 28 screwed on therod and carrying a soft felt pad 29 which is located so as to co-operatewithor bump against a soft felt pad 30 mounted on top of core 17whenever the electro-magnet is energized for opening the valve. A coilspring 31 is attached with one end to the armature, as by hooking it ina small hole provided in the bar, and said spring has its other endmounted for convenient and prompt adjustment, as by the use of a post 32of bendable material mounted or screwed in the leg 14 adjacent foot 15,and to the free end 33 of which the sprin is attached. This spring maythus be readi y tensioned by merely bending up said end 33 with a tool,as a screw-driver, or the like, to hold the valve normally closed withpositive firmness; said bendable post and the spring thus providingreadily adjustable means for retaining the valve closed.

This construction of readily adjustable post 32 and coil spring 31, fordrawing the armature with the proper degree of force to hold the valveseated with the proper firmness, is a decided improvement over the typeof spring arrangement formerly used and as shown in my Patent No.1,403,930, granted January 17, 1922, on valve action for organs; whereinthe spring 16 was not readily adjustable and needed a tongue 14 formount it, which tongue was not readily benda e.

The usual electro-magnets as used in pipe organs, and as disclosed insaid patent, are also subject to the defect of emitting sparks at thecontacts, unless condensers are used along with the electro-magnets, acondenser member along with a magnet member; thus over-crowding andjamming the space in the organ used by the many closely mountedelectro-magnets for operating the many valves for the organ-pipes. Ihave overcome any such defect and have successfully solved this problemby providing a combination electro-magnet and spark-absorber orsparkpreventing means constructed as one unitary member; and this I useinstead of the formerly used electro-magnets, like that shown in saidpatent.

The end wires of the coils of the electromagnets of this kind ashere-to-fore used, and as indicated in my said patent, were also liableto be broken off or pulled out; thus rendering the electro-magnetdefective, and making any further attaching of the circuit wires or linewires to the wires of the magnet coils impossible,-since said ends ofthe coil wires or said terminals have been broken or pulled away. Inthis present invention I also remedy this defect; and I preferably dothis by providing integral ears on one ofthe insulator end pieces of themagnet, and winding the ends of the coil wires thereon and solderingthem fast thereon.

The preferred construction of my combination electro-magnet andspark-absorber as a unit comprises the core 17 with an inner end piece35 and an outer end piece 36, and a sleeve 37 therebetween on said core,said end pieces and sleeve being of insulating material mounted on themetal core. Copper wire insulated in any approved manner provides theinner electro-magnet windings 38, placed around said sleeve and core;and insulated German silver wire which is doubled-over or looped at itsinnermost part as indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 4, is wound aroundthe copper wire magnet winding to provide the spark-absorbing orsparkpreventing means or windings 39. A covering coat 40 of coil-covermaterial or bookbinders cloth is placed around the coil windings,between the end pieces, as indicated in Fig. 3. This provides a combinedand unitary construction which is readily handled and mounted in place,the same as the former plain electro-magnet, requiring no more space orplace for mounting it, especially beneficial in a pipe-organ andpositively prevents any occurrence of sparks at the terminals orcontacts.

The improved and durable terminals or contacts I provide preferably byconstructing the insulator end piece or end flange 35 with integralearsor lugs 41 having enlarged ends or heads 42 thereon, as shown in Fig. 5.These end pieces and ears thereon are preferably made from compressedfibre, or similar suitable material. The ends of the windings or coils38 and 39 are then wound closely and tightly around the pair of cars orlugs 41, and solder 43 is placed thereover, thus making a firmmetal-coated terminal or contact. The circuit wires 44 can then befastened to these ears or lugs, and the ends of these Wires 38, 39, and44 are held by the solder and by the enlarged ends or heads 42 firmly inposition on said ears, the circuit wires 44 being preferably alsoembedded in the solder, to assure posi tive contact or connection atthese terminals.

In use, the energization of the electromagnet 16 will draw the armaturearm 22 downward across the face 18 of the core, thereby pulling thevalve away from the valve seat 13 and opening the air channel for thepassage or flow of air from air passage 10 into organ-pipe 11. When thecurrent through the circuit Wire 44 and through the magnet isinterrupted and the magnet de-energized, the spring 31 draws thearmature and valve up against seat 13 and closes the air channel.

It will be apparent that with this im- 13 0 proved construction thevalve can be properly adjusted with respect to the armature, and theposition of the armature and its force normally exerted on the valve canbe further adjusted by tensioning the spring 31 by bending post 32, thusproviding exactly the required pressure on the valve for normallyretaining it firmly seated against the valve seat. It is also apparentthat this combined electro-magnet and spark-absorber in one member willprevent any chance of sparks occurring at the contacts and is exactlysuited and adapted for use .in pipe organs; also that with thisconstruction of integral ears 41 on the end piece, and by fastening thewire ends thereon with solder, a very strong .contact or terminal isprovided whereby the usual trouble of tearing out the end portions ofthe magnet wires, formerly used for connecting with the circuit wires,during handlingithe device, is entirely avoided.

hat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1.Valve mechanism for controlling the passage of air through a conduit,comprising a bracket carrying an electric member, a valve for closingthe conduit, an armature pivotally mounted on the bracket and carryingthe valve, which is opened by actuating the electric member, a springconnected to the armature for closing the valve, and a member forconnecting the spring to the bracket, said member being secured with oneend to the bracket and its main part being readily adj ustable forvarying the tension of the spring.

2. Valve mechanism arranged as a unit tor controlling the passage of airthrough a conduit, comprising a bracket carrying an electro-Inagneticmember, a valve for closing the conduit, an armature pivotally mountedon thebracket and carrying the valve, which is .iipened by energizingsaid member, and a spring connected to the armature for closing thevalve and having means for connecting it with the bracket, said meansbeing bendable to provide ready adjustment to the spring.

3. alve mechanism for a conduit, comprising a bracket having anelectro-magnetic member secured thereon, a valve for closing theconduit, an armature pivotally mounted on the bracket and carrying thevalve, which is opened by actuating said member, a coil spring attachedwith one end to said armature, for closing the valve, and a post ofbendable material connected to the other end of said spring and mountedon the bracket, said post being bendable for readily adjusting thetension of said spring and its effect on the valve.

4. The combination, with an air passage having an air conduit leadingtherefrom, of a valve mechanism for controlling the passage of airthrough said conduit and comby the action of said member, a coil springattached with one end-to the armature, for closing the valve, and a postof bendable -material connected to the other end of said spring andmounted on the leg adjacent said foot, for readily adjusting the tensionof said spring and its closing action on the valve.

5. Valve mechanism for controlling the passage of air through a conduit,comprising a bracket mounted adjacent said conduit, an armature pivotedon the bracket and carrying a valve for the conduit, annitary membercarried by said bracket and includ ing an inner Winding to serve as anelectromagnet and an outer Winding mounted over the inner one andconnected therewith to serve as a spark-absorber, for operating saidarmature and valve, and an adjustable spring means attached to saidarmature for retract in it with the valve.

s. Valve mechanism "for a conduit, com: prising a bracket, an armaturemounted on the bracket and carrying a valve for the conduit, a unitarymember carried by the bracket for operating said armature and valve,said member including an inner winding and an outer winding of loopedWire having its ends connected with the ends of said inner winding onthe terminals to provide a sparkless electro-rnagnet, and spring meansfor actuating said armature and valve.

7. Valve mechanism for a conduit, comprising a bracket, an armature onthe bracket and carrying the valve for closing the conduit, andelectro-magnet means carried by said bracket and including an innerWinding and an outer Winding thereover of looped wire which has its loopinwards, placed upon the inner winding, and has its ends connected withthe ends of the inner winding on the terminals, to provide a spark-lessunitary structure.

8. A unitary control mechanism for use in .an organ, comprising abracket, a unitary LOUIS J. WICK.

